Toy coupling apparatus and method for uncoupling same

ABSTRACT

A toy train coupling apparatus where the train is movable over a flat surface rather than conventional rails. The coupling apparatus includes two coupling elements, each having a hook part, a depending pin, a flexible detent and a flexible elongated arm. The arm allows the hook part to pivot in response to engagement forces while limits are placed on the coupling element to restrain motion during disengagement. The arms and detents flex to provide biasing forces helping to cause engagement, while the detents also help to cause disengagement. External forces are applied longitudinally to cause engagement; external forces are applied to cause disengagement.

[ 51 July 25,1972

United States Patent Beny et a].

3,605,332 1/1970 Stepek...............................v......46/226 [54] TOY COUPLING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR UNCOUPLING SAME [72] Inventors: Janos Beny; LC James Kingsbury; David Primary Examiner--Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-J. Q. Lever Attorney-Seymour A. Scholnick L. Scribner, all of Manhattan Beach, Calif.

Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif.

April 13, 1971 [73] Assignee: ABSTRACT [22] Filed:

A toy tram coupling apparatus where the train lS movable over [21] Appl. No.:

a flat surface rather than conventional rails. The coupling apparatus includes two coupling elements, each having a hook part, a depending pin, a flexible detent and a flexible elongated arm. The arm allows the hook part to pivot in response '46/216 221 to engagement forces while limits are placed on the coupling [51] Int. Cl. [58] Field of element to restrain motion during disengagement. The arms and detents flex to provide biasing forces helping to cause en- References Cited gagement, while the detents also help to cause disengagement. UNITED STATES PATENTS External forces are applied longitudinally to cause engagement' external forces are applied to cause disengagement.

9 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures 3,397,483 8/1968 Lingard.......................,...........46/2l6 3,469,713 9/1969 Edwardsetal...............,.........,46/2l6 Patentd July 25,1972 3,678,618

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /iJ/WL lrrnewz/ TOY COUPLING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR UNCOUPLING SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toy coupling apparatus and method for uncoupling the apparatus and, more particularly, to an inexpensively manufactured and assembled coupling apparatus comprising two integral coupling elements for use with toy vehicles, such as small toy trains, and especially for use with those toy vehicles which are not closely laterally constrained by the tracks upon which they move.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art is replete with toy coupling systems. Most of these systems were developed for toy electric trains, such as those sold under the Lionel and American Flyer trademarks. Each of these trains simulated real trains in that they included simulated rails over which the trains moved with flanged wheels. Like a real train, the flanged wheels restrained lateral movement of the train relative the track. Generally, the coupling system presented were complex mechanisms in that several elements having unique hinging pins and/or complicated biasing springs were generally required; and usually there was a requirement of cooperation between the coupling system and cam elements attached to the track to cause uncoupling. Other systems included magnetically or electrically operated coupling elements. While some of the coupling systems closely resembled real train coupling devices, others were simply too complex or poorly designed to allow manufacturing and assembly at a reasonable cost.

It is important that any coupling system to be included with a toy vehicle must be inexpensively manufactured and allow facilitated assembling methods if the toy vehicle is to be mass marketed at a reasonable price,

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the problems mentioned hereinabove by providing a coupling apparatus for releasably connecting two toy vehicles comprising first and second coupling elements, each having a forward hook portion and an integral rearward arm portion, one end of said arm portion connected to a toy vehicle, said arm portion being of a sufficiently small cross section to be flexible thereby allowing said hook portion to pivot relative said toy vehicle. In more detail, the coupling apparatus is comprised of two coupling elements, each of which comprises a first end portion pivotally connected to a toy vehicle; a second end portion integral with the first end portion for engaging another coupling element, the end portion including means for receiving the other coupling element, a cam surface for biasing the other coupling element into engagement with the receiving means, and an integrally connected movable detent for retaining the coupling element in engagement when forces acting on the toy vehicle are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the toy vehicle. The invention further includes a method for disengaging the toy coupling apparatus comprising the steps of applying opposite forces to the toy vehicle along a direction generally perpendicular to the central longitudinal axes of the toy vehicles; restraining pivoting movement of the coupling apparatus; providing means for developing laterally opposite force components on said coupling apparatus; and providing means for developing opposite force components generally parallel to the longitudinal axes of the toy vehicles.

It is an important aim of the present invention to provide a coupling apparatus which is simply constructed, inexpensively manufactured, easily assembled to a corresponding toy vehicle and easily operated.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a coupling apparatus for toy vehicles which do not have the type of flanged wheel which is normally associated with conventional toy railroad tracks; that is, the present coupling apparatus is suited for vehicles which ride on a generally flat surface where close lateral restraint is absent.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a coupling apparatus and a method of operating the same which allows coupling to occur by simply providing oppositely disposed forces directed parallel to the longitudinal axes of the vehicles to be engaged and which accomplishes uncoupling or separation by the application of oppositely disposed forces generally perpendicular to the direction of the longitudinal axes of the vehicles.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a coupling apparatus which biases the attached toy vehicles to a centrally aligned position.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide a coupling element which is completely integral and which functions simply by the application of forces to the attached toy vehicle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a toy vehicle chassis including a coupling element secured to the chassis and a second coupling element partially broken away of another toy vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of two pairs of coupling elements in engaged positions and portions of two toy vehicles.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional elevational. view of a toy vehicle with its coupling element and a track on which the vehicle moves.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified coupling element.

FIG. 5 is a partially broken away plan view of two toy vehicle chassis and their corresponding coupling elements in a separated position.

FIG. 6 is a plan view similar to that shown in FIG. 5 with the coupling elements partially engaged.

FIG. 7 is a plan view similar to that shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrating the coupling elements fully engaged.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view similar to that shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 illustrating the application of lateral forces and the coupling elements partially disengaged.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged plan view similar to that shown in FIG. 8 illustrating the coupling elements partially disengaged but more so than shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a plan view similar to that shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrating disengagement of the coupling elements when one of the toyvehicles is subjected to a lateral pivoting force.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS While the present invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, illustrative embodiments are shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not the intention to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed; but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it is contemplated that a toy train vehicle 10 will operate on a track layout having track sections, such as a track section 12. The track section includes a support portion 14 having an upper running surface I6 and a lower surface 18. Projecting upwardly from the support portion 14 are two oppositely disposed guide flanges 20 and 22 automobile, however, it is evident that other types of toy vehicles may be used, such as a similarly scaled toy train.

The vehicle having a body 30 simulating that of a train is movable along the upper surface of the track section on very low friction, freely rotatable wheels, such as wheels 32 and 34, which are mounted to a thin wire axle 36. A more detailed description of freely rotatable toy vehicle wheels is found in US. Pat. No. 3,510,981 to H. W. La Branche et al. and in the above-mentioned A. W. B. Nash et al. patent. It is to be noted that while the wheels 32, 34 illustrate a relatively wide smaller diameter portion 38 and 40, respectively, and a narrow larger diameter portion 42 and 44, respectively, these portions are not of the same scale nor function as those illustrated in the prior toy train patents; for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2, 235,555 to P. C. Koch the toy vehicle illustrated has flanged wheels more nearly duplicating in appearance and function a real railroad train and track system. When there is an engagement between a flanged wheel and a rail, such as shown in FIG. 4 of the Koch patent, the vehicle is restrained from substantial lateral movement by the engagement of the flange of the wheel and the rail. It is important to note that in the present train system, the only lateral constraint on the vehicle is that provided by the guide flanges and 22 which are sufficiently spaced to allow substantial lateral movement of the toy vehicle to positions shown in dotted line in FIG. 3. The fact that the train is not closely constrained laterally presents a problem which was overcome in the present invention and in fact was used to advantage for uncoupling purposes as will be explained in more detail hereinbelow.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, the small diameter axle 36 is attached to a toy vehicle chassis 46 which is shown more clearly in FIG. 1 without the axle and wheels. The chassis 46 may be made of a moldable synthetic resin as an integral unit to which the body 30 is then secured in any convenient fashion.

In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention. a coupling apparatus is provided herein which is simply constructed, inexpensively manufactured and easily assembled to the toy vehicle of which it becomes a part. Referring again to FIG. 1, a coupling apparatus 50 includes a coupling element 52 and a mateable coupling element 54. Each of the coupling elements are identical so that only the coupling element 52 need be described in detail. The coupling element 52 includes one end portion having an elongated arm 56, one end 58 of which is pin shaped and received within an opening 60 within the chassis 46 and secured thereto in fixed relationship such as by an adhesive. The other end 62 of the elongated arm is integral with a plate region 64 having a slot 66 bounded by a wall 68. A second end portion of the coupling element includes a hook part 70 for receiving and engaging a hook part 72 of the coupling element 54. The hook 70 has a peripheral cam surface 74 which engages and moves along a similar peripheral cam surface 76 of the coupling element 54.

Integral with the hook part is a flexible detent 78 which projects outwardly at a lower level than the level of the hook part 70. This is more clearly shown by referring to the coupling element 54 which includes A detent 80. The detent 78 also includes a peripheral cam surface 82 which is disposed at an angle to the cam surface 74 so that the detent cam surface will provide a bias having a force component in a direction opposite to a force component provided by the bias of the hook part cam surface 74. In a similar fashion, the detent 80 includes a cam surface 84. Depending from the hook part 70 is a pin 86 which functions as a cam follower while a similar pin 88 is integral with the hook part 72. It is to be understood that the coupling element 52 is an integral element capable of perfonning a variety of functions. Being an integral piece, the coupling elements may be molded of a suitable synthetic resin so that assembly simply comprises attaching the pin-shaped end 58 to the chassis 46 and mounting the slot 66 over a pin 90 which is integrally molded with the chassis. Because the pin 90 is located on a flat portion 92 of the chassis, the coupling element may pivot laterally relative the chassis due to the relatively thin gauge of the flexible elongated arm 56 within the limits provided by the slot wall 68. This pivoting movement will allow the arm 56 to alternate between an unbiased position and a biased position, with the unbiased position being shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 4, slightly modified version of a coupling element is illustrated including a hook part 70, a peripheral cam surface 74', a detent 78, a plate region 64, a slot 66, a slot wall 68' and a detent cam surface 82'. Connected to the plate region 64 is an end 62' of a flexible arm 56' which is somewhat shorter than the arm 56 of the FIG. 1 embodiment. As with the arm 56, a second end 58' of the arm 56' is pin shaped to be received in a fixed relationship by a toy vehicle. The shortened arm 56' consumes less space of the chassis to which it is attached. This is of particular importance for a toy train engine which may include a small motor and motor energizer as well as drive wheels. Nevertheless, the function of the arm 56' is the same as that of the arm 56 in that the arm allows the remainder of the coupling element to pivot within the limits provided by the slot.

Another important aspect of the present invention is that the coupling apparatus is easily operated simply by moving the two toy vehicles to be joined in a direction generally parallel to their longitudinal axes. Referring ow to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, there is illustrated two vehicles represented by the chassis 46 and another chassis to which are attached the coupling elements 52 and 54. Upon moving the chassis 46 and 100 toward each other generally parallel to the central longitudinal axes 101,103 of the chassis, such as by holding the chassis 46 stationary and moving the chassis 100, an abutment of the cam surfaces 74 and 76 will occur. Because the surfaces are oblique to the direction of relative motion between the chassis (which would be parallel to the axes 101, 103) a component of force will be developed having a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement (that is, the force component would be directed horizontal as depicted in FIG. 5) so that the hook parts 70 and 72 will slide relative each other causing the coupling element 52 to pivot to the left while the coupling element 54 pivots to the right, see FIG. 6.

As mentioned, pivoting will occur because of the small cross-sectioned elongated arms 56 and 56a. Sliding of the surfaces 74 and 76 will continue until the pins 86 and 88 are aligned laterally, as illustrated in FIG. 6; that is, the hook parts 70 and 72 are positioned end to end. At this stage of the engaging process, the pin 86 has come into engagement with the cam surface 84 of the detent 80, while the pin 88 has come into contact with the cam surface 82 of the detent 78. Because the detents have free ends and are of relatively thin gauge, they will flex in response to the force exerted bythe pins allowing the pins to slide about one another. A force is developed due to the flexing of the detent and due to the arms 56, 56a moving to their biased positions. This force and the initial longitudinal coupling force cause the pins to continue sliding relative one another until the fully engaged position shown in FIG. 7 is reached. As noted, both the detents and the arms are returned to their unbiased positions when complete engagement is reached.

In more detail, the arms 56, 56a are unbiased and centered about the axes 101, 103 when the vehicles are fully disengaged (FIG. 5) or fully engaged (FIG. 7). However, during the engagement process (FIG. 6) the arms assume a flexed, biased position at an angle with the central longitudinal axes. As shown in FIG. 7, the pins 86 an 88 are received by the hook parts 72 and 70, respectively, and are prevented from easily disengaging by the detents. It is to be noted that the integral coupling elements alone provide the necessary biasing force, camming function and pivoting required to make a connection.

It is another important aspect of the present invention to provide a coupling apparatus and a method of operating the same which may be easily uncoupled without the cooperation of other elements, such as guide members attached to the track as exemplified by coupling systems found in the prior art. In addition, there is no reliance on the abutment mode between a flanged wheel and a rail so as to prevent lateral movements. Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, the chassis 46, 100 are easily disengaged by providing opposite lateral forces. For example, a force directed leftwardly on the chassis 46 causes the chassis to move laterally to the guide flange 20, while a rightwardly directed force on the chassis 100 causes it to move toward the guide flange 22. Since the coupling element 52 may only pivot from its center position to the left, a leftwardly moving force on the chassis causes the pin 90 to bear against one end of the slot wall 68 causing the coupling element to move rigidly with the chassis 46 in a leftward direction. In a similar fashion, the pin 90a bearing against one end of the slot wall 68a causes the coupling element 54 to be moved rigidly rightwardly. This movement causes the pins 86 and 88 to move relative one another along their surfaces and against the cam surfaces of the detents so as to disengage the hook parts 70 and 72 (see FIG. 8). Further opposite lateral movements of the chassis 46 and 100 cause a more complete disengagement of the coupling elements 52 and 54, as shown in FIG. 9.

Because of the slope of the detent cam surfaces 82 and 84, there is developed a component of force parallel to the direction of the longitudinal axes of the chassis causing the chassis to separate not only laterally but longitudinally so as to complete disengagement. In more detail, this is accomplished because as the pins 86 and 88 move relative each other, shown in FIG. 8, the detents are moved from their unbiased position shown in FIG. 7 to a biased position shown in FIG. 8; once the pins are in a position beyond the longitudinally aligned one shown in FIG. 8, the detents bias the pins away from each other as the detents attempt to return to their initial unbiased position. The detents go through a similar motion during engagement and thus after the pins have moved past the longitudinally aligned position, the biasing forces of the detents tend to push the pins into engagement with the corresponding hook part.

Referring to FIG. 10, disengagement may also occur by having one of the chassis, such as the chassis 46, retained stationary while the other chassis is rotated using the coupling apparatus as a rotational axis. The same force system is engendered in the coupling system causing disengagement to occur as was the case described above relating to FIGS. 8 and 9. Thus, as a rotational force is applied to the chassis 100, the pin 90a and a surface 102 of the plate region 64a abutting the cam surface 74 will prevent pivoting of the coupling element 52. When this occurs, the pin 88 rotates about the surface of the pin 86 causing the detents 78 and 80 to be moved to their biased positions until the pins move past their longitudinally aligned position allowing the detents to bias them further into disengagement. It is to be understood by reviewing the two methods of disengagement that a mechanism whichapplies the necessary lateral forces to the preselected vehicles as explained with regard to FIGS. 8 and 9 will cause disengagement while a mechanism applying a rotational force to the preselected vehicle will cause disengagement as explained in regard to FIG. 10. It is noted that neither of the disengagement methods required the cooperation of any elements not integral with the coupling apparatus so as to insure a simply operated, simply constructed and simply assembled apparatus. A related factor accomplishing these advantages is the placement of the detent at a different level than the hook part. This allows the flexing and biasing of the detent without interfering with either the engagement or disengagement processes.

Referring once again to FIG. 1, attention is drawn to the detent 80 which has a recess 104 causing a thin gauged region 106. If desired, this construction may be used to form what is sometimes referred to as a living hinge" or integral hinge" to give the detent 80 a greater flexibility while still providing a biasing force when pivoting of the detent occurs about the region 106.

Yet another important aspect of the present invention is that the coupling apparatus provides a biasing force to centrally align the vehicles since this is not accomplished by the traditional method of a rail and flanged wheel. Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated the chassis 46 and with the chassis 46 having the coupling element 52, the chassis 100 having the coupling elements 54 and and a coupling elernent 112 attached to another chassis, not shown. Because there is space for lateral movement of the vehicles, as illustrated in FIG. 3, a vehicle such as that having the chassis 100 may become misaligned, as shown by the slant of the central longitudinal axis. When this occurs, there will be a flexing of the coupling element arms from their normally unbiased cen' trally located position to a biased position. For example, the coupling elements 52 and 54 have been biased to their full extent; the pins 90 and 90a abut the slot wall opposite to that shown in FIG. 5 where the coupling elements are in an unbiased position. Because of the stress created in the elongated arms 56 and 56a, a force will be created to return the vehicles to a centrally aligned position which corresponds to the unbiased position for the coupling apparatus. Referring to the coupling elements 110 and 112, it is noted that the coupling element 112 is centrally aligned whereas the coupling [10 is in a biased position. Here too, the coupling element will tend to return to a centrally located unbiased position relative the vehicle causing the vehicle to realign itself.

What has been described is a coupling apparatus which is very inexpensively manufactured and easily assembled to a vehicle and which is easily operated to engage or disengage toy vehicles. Thus, the vehicle may be mass marketed as a simulated train and allow young children to enjoy hours of exciting play. At the same time, this system is adapted to the same type of track system used for other types of vehicles, such as small automobiles, trucks and! motorcycles, thereby enlarging an already highly versatile toy system.

We claim:

1. A coupling for a pair of toy vehicles comprising: a movable element on each vehicle mounted for lateral movement thereon and each having a holding portion thereof for receiving and holding a corresponding portion of the other movable element and including a cam surface for deflecting said other movable element into engaging and holding relation therewith;

an integral resiliently deflectable detent on each element arranged to be deflected by the other element when it is deflected by said cam surface, to urge said elements into holding engagement with each other.

2. A coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein each resilient detent is at a level below said holding portions, and a pin depending from each holding portion for engaging and deflecting the detent of the other movable element.

3. A coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein each holding portion comprises a laterally open hook-like portion, said cam surfaces each being arranged to urge the other holding portion toward the open side of said hook-like portion, said detents being laterally outwardly of said open sides.

4. A coupling as defined in claim 1 including biasing means for urging each of said holding portions: laterally in a direction to resist deflection by said cam surfaces.

5. A coupling for a pair of toy vehicles, comprising:

a coupling element mounted on each vehicle and having an elongated resilient arm fixedly secured at one end to its vehicle and a holding member at its other end whereby each holding member may be resiliently deflected laterally of its vehicle to holdingly engage the other holding member.

6. A coupling as defined in claim 5 wherein a portion of each holding member and its vehicle are provided with cooperating stop means for limiting lateral deflection of its resilient arm.

7. A coupling as defined in claim 6 wherein said stop means comprise a laterally extending slot in said portion and a pin fixed on said vehicle and extending into said slot.

9. A coupling as defined in claim 8 including an integral resiliently deflectable finger on each holding member, outwardly of the laterally open side thereof to resiliently urge and retain said hook-like portions in coupled relation.

l 10K 1.! t 

1. A coupling for a pair of toy vehicles comprising: a movable element on each vehicle mounted for lateral movement thereon and each having a holding portion thereof for receiving and holding a corresponding portion of the other movable element and including a cam surface for deflecting said other movable element into engaging and holding relation therewith; an integral resiliently deflectable detent on each element arranged to be deflected by the other element when it is deflected by said cam surface, to urge said elements into holding engagement with each other.
 2. A coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein each resilient detent is at a level below said holding portions, and a pin depending from each holding portion for engaging and deflecting the detent of the other movable element.
 3. A coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein each holding portion comprises a laterally open hook-like portion, said cam surfaces each being arranged to urge the other holding portion toward the open side of said hook-like portion, said detents being laterally outwardly of said open sides.
 4. A coupling as defined in claim 1 including biasing means for urging each of said holding portions laterally in a direction to resist deflection by said cam surfaces.
 5. A coupling for a pair of toy vehicles, comprising: a coupling element mounted on each vehicle and having an elongated resilient arm fixedly secured at one end to its vehicle and a holding member at its other end whereby each holding member may be resiliently deflected laterally of its vehicle to holdingly engage the other holding member.
 6. A coupling as defined in claim 5 wherein a portion of each holding member and its vehicle are provided with cooperating stop means for limiting lateral deflection of its resilient arm.
 7. A coupling as defined in claim 6 wherein said stop means comprise a laterally extending slot in said portion and a pin fixed on said vehicle and extending into said slot.
 8. A coupling as defined in claim 5 wherein each holding member comprises a laterally open hook-like portion with an outer surface defining a cam for engaging the corresponding surface of the other holding member and thereby deflect each of said holding members toward the open side of the other.
 9. A coupling as defined in claim 8 including an integral resiliently deflectable finger on each holding member, outwardly of the laterally open side thereof to resiliently urge and retain said hook-like portions in coupled relation. 